At Sotheby’s Geneva High Jewelry sale on Nov 12, 2025, the “Glowing Rose,” a cushion brilliant-cut, 10.08 carat fancy vivid pink diamond, vanished before the hammer dropped. The estimated price of the diamond was around $20 million; however, the auction house said the diamond was removed because the parties involved were discussing the sale, without elaborating further.
A second big-ticket item also disappeared prior to the sale: Phillips also pulled a top lot, a 6.95-carat fancy vivid purplish-pink diamond ring, expected to sell for roughly $9 million.
A 6.95-carat vivid purplish-pink diamond was removed from the Phillips auction roster. Photo courtesy of Phillips.
In spite of the disappearance of the two headline items, Sotheby’s still had a successful day. The High Jewelry sale generated CHF 29.8 million ($37 million), and 94 percent of the lots sold at auction. Additionally, 75 percent of the lots exceeded the high end of their estimates. The highest-priced gem in the sale was a 4.50-carat internally flawless, fancy vivid blue diamond, which sold for approximately CHF 4.8 million (about $6 million).
Why the Glowing Rose Was Important and Why its Disappearance Matters
Custom engagement ring featuring the Glowing Rose Pink Diamond by Boodles. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.
There were several reasons why the Glowing Rose was unique and why its removal resonated with the industry. According to Sotheby’s, it is only the third cushion-cut vivid pink diamond over 10 carats to have been offered in the past ten years. The diamond was cut from a 21-carat rough stone mined in Angola, a country well-known for producing exceptional Type IIa diamonds, which are considered the purest group of diamonds that do not contain nitrogen impurities.
The clarity of the diamond was graded VVS2 and the diamond is set in a custom mounting by Boodles, a British jeweler, designed to highlight the stone’s intense pink color.
Pink diamonds are extremely rare. According to Sotheby’s, less than 0.15 percent of diamonds submitted to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are graded as fancy vivid pink. Therefore, when a large, high-quality pink diamond appears on the market, it generates substantial interest and publicity.
Custom Boodles engagement ring featuring the Glowing Rose Pink Diamond, accented with side-set clear diamonds along the band. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.
The Glowing Rose was exhibited in a presentation mount by Boodles in both Singapore and Taipei before the auction. The cushion shape of the diamond has additional cultural significance, as it is similar to many of the shapes used in high-profile engagement rings. As such, the appearance of a cushion-shaped pink diamond highlights the connection that consumers make today between custom engagement ring designs and luxury.
Bigger Picture: Color-Gemstone-Auction Trends and Market Momentum
While this is a story about one diamond, it represents larger trends in the colored-gem market. Collectively, Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auctions (the High Jewelry sale and the Royal & Noble Jewels sale) generated CHF 41.2 million (~$51.3 million). As demonstrated by the performance of Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auctions, demand for rare colored gemstones continues to be strong, particularly for pieces that have a historical or technical pedigree.
Additionally, the withdrawal of the Glowing Rose illustrates the delicacy of the relationship between consignors and auction houses, particularly for ultra-high value gemstones. Top-tier stone consignors may opt out of a sale at any time during the process based upon private negotiations or changes in the market.
For fans of custom jewelry — particularly individuals who are planning to purchase or design a custom engagement ring — the story of the Glowing Rose is a reminder of the extreme rarity of the very best stones; how important the quality of the cut and the history of the stone are; and how the world of investing interacts with the milestones of individual lives.
